SC allows bull-fighting in Tamil Nadu

New Delhi , Jan 15 (ANI): The Supreme Court today lifted the ban it imposed on “Jalikkatu”, a popular sport that involves bullfighting in Tamil Nadu, saying it must be held under the State Governments supervision.

A large number of villagers of Madurai had threatened to surrender their ration cards to the State Government, if it did not take immediate action regarding the ban on the traditional sport.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi had sent a team of senior officials to New Delhi to take immediate steps to meet the public demand for lifting the ban.

‘Jallikattu’, bull fighting or taming the bull, which dates back hundreds of years, is a major event in villages of south India and is held as a thanksgiving ceremony for the animals that have helped in farm activities year-round.

The objective of Jallikattu is to wrest the bounty, which is held in a cloth bag tied between the horns of the bulls.

An agitated bull is let loose to run amok in an open space as a number of people attempt to tame the animal by controlling its horns with the victor taking the prize money home.

The horns of the adorned bulls are wet before the event and the animal is rubbed down with oil making it more difficult to hold onto. To add to it the bulls are drugged with steroids and are sometimes made to drink alcohol in order to enrage them preparing for the event. (ANI)